Peril

In insurance terms, a peril is the specific cause of damage or loss to your property. Common perils include fire, windstorm, hail, lightning, theft, and vandalism. Identifying the ‘Proximate Peril’ is a key part of the claims process because it determines whether the loss is covered under your specific policy form. If your home is damaged, the insurance adjuster will investigate to see if the primary peril was a covered event (like wind) or an excluded event (like flooding).